Evaporator unit



April 8, 1941. F. D. PELTIER ET AL EVAPORATOR UNIT R A mm R M 1 mam/W w m /w ATTORNEY A ril 8, 1941. v F". D PELTI ER mm. 237.500 EVAPORATOR 1mm Filed March 7, 1938 2 Sheets-Shea 2 INVENTORS FRANK D. PELTIER I KARI. IF, SCHMIDT ATTORNEY Watented Apr. 8, 1941 EvAPoRAToR UNIT Frank 1). Poitier-and Karl F. Schmidt, Indianapolis, Ind, assignors, by mesne assignments, to

Philco Corporation, Philadelphia,

ration of Pennsylvania Pa., a corpo- Application March 7, 1933, Serial No. 194,311

Claims. (01. 62-126) This invention relates to an improved evaporator assembly for refrigerator apparatus, and

more particularlyto an evaporator unit .for use in refrigerators of domestic type. An objectof the invention resides in the provision of a greatlyimproved and efficient evapoe rator. assembly which is desirably compact, yet which has a large exposed surface to facilitate heat exchange, I

Among otherobjects attained may be noted the provision of an improved evaporator assembly which may be produced at a relatively low cost,

eliminating the necessity for expensive dies. and

other forming apparatus such as are required in the manufacture of prevailing sheet metal evaporators; the arrangement of the main evaporator header or manifold laterally 'of the evaporator axis, and asymmetricalarrangement of risers between a fluid delivery connection and the main header, to provide for greater compactness of the evaporator unit, and'further, the connection of the fluid suction line to substantially the midsection of the main header,-whereby to attain sub..

stantially equal suction in the risers.

Uther objects and advantages will appear readily, as the description proceeds, and from the accompanying drawings, 'i'nwhich: a

Fig. l. is a top plan view of the evaporator as sembly; Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively, side and front elevationsthereof; Fig. 4 is afragme'ntary vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 6-5 of Fig, 3; Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmental side.view of a modified form of riser connection, and Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view thereof, as taken on the line 81-8 of Fig. 7.

Referring to the-drawings, I ll represents a horizontally arranged main header or manifold which is formed preferablyof seamless tubing, and has auxiliary headers 20 extend inwardly of' header its ends closed by suitable discs l'l secured'in.

position by soldering or other means, in a manner to prevent leakage of refrigerant fluid or gas atv these points. Located within the-header l0 and. extending substantially the length of the header,

header, nevertheless, the baflle may besoldered or otherwise secured in place to assure the desired position thereof.

The upper or bridge portion of the baflie l2- is provided with longitudinally spaced openings oi ports I4 which permit evaporated refrigerant to pass from the surrounding header space to theinterior' space of the'baiile. Moreover, the ends of the bafile may be notched as at i5, sothat-oil conveyed intothe evaporator by the refrigerant If desirable, additional oil openings, such as l6, may be provided in thebaiiie for this purpose. I Extending vertically into the header l0 and fluid, may pass to the interior of the bafiie.

preferably ata point substantially mid-wayof its ends, is one end iii of a suction pipe or conduit ll, the opposite end of which is adapted, for'conneotion to the usual coupling device (not shown), provided for attachment thereof to the suction line of a compressor unit. .An intermediate portion of conduit I1 is by preference, curved upon itself or of sinuous form to facilitate conduit connectionsto the compressor coupling, and to provide for assembly conditions in different installations; as thickness of the cabinet wall (not shown) through which the coupling end-of-the conduit extends. The end l8 of suction pipe l! as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, is located interiorlyof the baffle l2 and preferably extends closely adjacent' the upper part of the battle, and has its" -open end bevelled, w into the pipe. I

as at Ilia, to facilitate fluid Located at one end of the evaporator unit and on oneside of the header l0, is-a U-shaped tube or conduit l9 which has the end portion 20 of each leg thereof extended out of the plane of the U and at substantially a right'angle to such plane, the portions 20 being in parallel as shown by Fig. 1, and formingauxiliary headers for a purpose presently appearing. The ends of the III, near its ends (Fig. 1) and preferably in the lower portion thereof (Fig. 2),'suitable spacing is abaiile member l2 which is by preference, substantially U-shape in section, being inverted in assembly within the'header. The legs of the battle have their ends l3 turned outwardly and .upwardly to form feet portions which bear against wallportions of the header (Fig. 5),. Whilethe frictional engagement of the baifle feet l3 with. ,the walls of the headen'normallymay be suflicient.

to retain the baflle in proper position within the of the auxiliary header ends fromthe baffle being effected to provide unrestricted communication thereof with the interior of the main header. As shown by Fig. 2, the U-portion'of the auxiliary header extends vertically below the-horizontal plane of the headers and main headerv ill, whilethe header portions thereof are disp'osed at substantially a' right angle to the longitudinal axis .of the main header. 0n the'oppositeside of the header Illqis a U-shape tube, 2| similar to the tube. l 9, and having' its leg portions 22 extended out of the'plane of the U and at substantially a right angle thereto, the portions 22 serving as auxiliary headers. The ends of auxiliary headers 22 enter the main header ID on the opposite side of the battle l2 therein. and in substantial axial registry with the auxiliary headers 20 (Figs. 1 and 2). The joining of the auxiliary headers 20 and 22 to header I is effected in any suitable manner, such as to provide for a leak-proof connection.

The U-tubes l9 and 2| are arranged in parallel, and located therebetween, in equally spaced, parallel relation to the tubes l9 and 2|, are a plurality of U-tubes 23, 24, 25, 26, 21 and 28. The free ends 29 of each of the tubes are swaged or reduced in diameter (Figs. 2 and and such ends of the tubes 23 and 24 are inserted in apertures 30 formed in the under surface of the auxiliary headers 20. Similarly, the reduced ends 29 of the tubes 26, 21 and 28 are inserted in apertures 3| in theund'erside of the auxiliary headers 22, while the reduced ends of tube 25 enter the lower side of the main header l0 near the ends thereof, through apertures 32 provided therein. All of the connections between tubes 2328 and the headers 20, 22 and Ill are made leak-proof for an obvious reason. Moreover, the ends of those tubes which enter the auxiliary headers and 22, projeot therein an equal distance, to provide for a uniform fluid flow from the tubes into the headers. It will be noted also, that the ends of tube project a short distance upwardly into the main header l0 and in register with the interior space of the baffle l2.

The bridge sections of all of the U-tubes l9, 2| and 23 through 28, are disposed to lie in a common horizontal plane, and these elements together with the main header l0 and auxiliary headers 20 and 22, provide a cage-like structure forming the evaporator unit. The refrigerant supply connection is made to the unit through the bridge sections of the U -tubes, as by a pipe or conduit 33 one end 34 of which is adapted for connection to a supply line (not shown) leading from a refrigerating unit which forms no part of the present invention and hence is not shown. The opposite end portion 35 of pipe 33 is inserted through suitable apertures 36 provided in the midsection of each of the U-tube bridge sections (Figs. 1 and 6), the extreme end 31 of tube 33 terminating within the end U-tube 2|. The portion of pipe 33 disposed within each of the U-tubes is provided with a fluid port 38 communicating with the interior of the U-tube, each of the ports being of the same size. The end 31 of tube 33 which terminates within U-tube 2|, is provided with a suitable plug 39 having a port 40 therein of a size equal to that of the ports 38. After assembly of the pipe portion 35 to the mid-sections of the U-tubes, all joints formed thereby at the zones of the LL-tube apertures 36, are sealed against fluid leakage, as by soldering.

The connection of the supply pipe 33 to the midsections of the U-tube bridge portions, serves to attain an equal distribution of the refrigerant to the opposite legs of each U-tube, and further, provides paths of equal length between the supply connection and the auxiliary headers. This assures an equal action of all the U-tubes.

Supported upon the U-tubes and internally of the cagef-like structure formed thereby, is a liner 43 serving to support a shelf 44. The shelf may be soldered to the liner and the projection 43 to assure good heat-transfer. The shelf 44 and bottom 45 of the liner provide supports for ice-forming trays (not shown) generally employed in evaporator units of domestic type, as the interior of the evaporator unit provides an effective freezing chamber for this purpose.

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate a modified form of U- tube connection to the auxiliary headers 20 and 22 above described. In this instance, such connection is made through expanding each end of a U-tube, to form a saddle 46 in which the header seats, the saddle being secured to the header in a leak proof manner, as by soldering. Fluid communication between the header and tube is effected through a port 41 in the header, the arrangement being such that the axes of the port and tube are in substantial alignment, as shown. The modified form of tube connection may be applied also, and with equal facility, to the connection of U-tube 25 to the main header I0.

It will be understood that the evaporator unit may be modified in overall size, and that in the smaller sizes thereof,,the shelf 44 may be omitted and the back wall of the lining 4| also omitted, if desired.

The principal features of the invention reside in the positionment of main header |0 laterally of the unit, the adaptation of portions of the U- tubes as auxiliary headers, connection of intermediate U-tubes to the auxiliary headers, and the connection of the refrigerant supply tube to the midsections of the U-tube bridge sections.

While having fully described the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is intended in the claims appended hereto to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. An evaporator unit comprising a main header, a chambered bafile within said header, a fluid outlet conduit in communication with the interior of said bafile, auxiliary headers in fiuid communication with said main header, exteriorly of said baffle, a plurality of U-tubes connected to saidauxiliary headers, and a fluid supply conduit common to said U-tubes.

2. An evaporator unit comprising a main header, an inverted U-shape baflle member arranged within the header in a manner to provide a header chamber within the bafile and a header chamber exteriorly of the bafile, a fluid refrigerant outlet conduit for said header, having an end portion projecting inwardly of said header chamber within saidbaflle, auxiliary headers communicatin with said header chamber exteriorly of the baffle, a plurality of angulate tubes connected to said auxiliary headers, and a fluid refrigerant supply conduit commonto said tubes, connected to each thereof at a point substantially midway of its ends.

3. An evaporator unit comprising a main header, an inverted U-shape bafile element located within and extending throughout said header, said element being arranged to provide a chamber within the bafile and a chamber exteriorly of the baflle, said bafiie having ports therein providing fluid communication between said chambers, a fluid outlet conduit having one end projecting vertically into said header chamber within the baflle, at a point substantially intermediate the ends of said header, auxiliary headers arranged horizontally and projecting into said header within said chamber exterior of the baffle, a plurality of U-tubes connected to t and depending from said auxiliary headers, and

a fluid supply conduit common to said U-tubes, connected to each thereof at a point substantially intermediate its ends.

l. An evaporator unit comprising a header, a vertically arranged conduitof' U-trend, spaced from said header and having the ends of its U leg portions bent out of the plane of the 'U-conduit and directed horizontally toward and projecting Within said header, and a plurality of horizontally spaced, vertically extending U-tubes connected in bridging relation, to the horizontal leg portions of said conduit, said U-conduit and U-tubes being in spaced, parallel relation.

5. An evaporator unit comprising a main header, vertically disposed conduits of U-trend, located on opposite sides of and spaced from said main header, each having the ends of its U leg portions bent at a right angle to the plane of the Ill-conduit, in a direction horizontally toward and projecting within said header, said horizontal leg portions forming auxiliary headers, and a plurality of horizontally spaced, vertical U-tubes arranged between said conduits, certain thereof being connected in bridging relation to the auxiliary headers provided by one of said conduits, and others of said U-tubes being connected in bridging relation to the auxiliary headers provided by the other said conduits.

6. An evaporator unit for refrigeration apparatus comprising a main header, a fluid refrigerant suction conduit having one end projecting vertically within said header, a vertically disposed conduit of U-trend, located on each side of said header and horizontally spaced therefrom,

each of said conduits having the end portions of zontal legs forming auxiliary headers, a plurality pipe common to said U-conduits and U -tubes, being connected to each at a point substantially intermediate its ends.

7. An evaporator comprising a cage-likestructure having a transverse header at the top portion thereof, a plurality of substantially parallel U-shaped tubular members having their bight portions arranged to form the bottom of said structure and their opposite leg portions extending to the top thereof, an endmost U-shaped member having the upper ends of the legs thereof angularly bent to form extensions overlying the upper ends of the legs of the U-shaped members lying between said endmost member and the header, said angular extensions communicating both with the upper ends of the last-named U- shaped members and with said header.

8. A structure of the type recited in claim 7 and including a sleeve member extending through said cage-like structure and arranged to support ice trays within the evaporator.

9. The structure of claim 7 wherein at least. one of the U-shaped members has the upper ends of its legs communicating directly with said header.

10. An evaporator comprising a cage-like structure having a header located in the center of the top portion thereof; a plurality of U- shaped tubular members having their bight portions arranged to form the bottom of said structure and their opposite leg portions extending to the top thereof; a supply pipe extending through each of said bight portions and having apertures arranged to permit passage of liquid refrigerant into the same; and tubular means connecting the leg portions of the U-shaped members at the opposite ends of said structure to the header; said tubular means overlying the extremities of the other U-shaped members and communicating therewith, the upper ends of the leg portions of the endmost of said U-shapedmembers having angular extensions forming said tubular means.

FRANK D. PEL'lI'IER. KARL F. SCHMIDT. 

